Inking mechanism for intaglio printing machines



Aug. 4, 1936. H. LITTLE INKING MECHANISM FOR INTAG LIO PRINTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 31, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 4, 1936. H. LITTLE INKING MECHANISM FOR INTAGLIO PRINTING MACHINES Filed Ded. 31, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 iNVENTOR Aug. 4, 1936. v H. LITTLE INKING MECHANISM FOR INTAGLIO PRINTING MACHINES Filed DEC. 31, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 HNVEIN'I'OR.

Patented Aug. 4, i936 INKHNG MECHANISM FOR ENTAGLKO PRINTING MAQHIINES Harry Little, Rye, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to R. Hoe & (30., line, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 31, 1934, Serial No. 759,981

' 18 Claims. (01. 101-157) This invention relates to printing machines and more particularly to an improved inking mechanism for rotary intaglio printing machines.

In rotary intaglio printing machines, ink fountains are provided in the form of receptacles forthe reception of printing ink, and the usual intaglio printing cylinder is revolved in the fountain, thereby causing the ink to be deposited on the periphery of the cylinder in the pits or wells of the subject or design which has been produced on the periphery of the cylinder. The surplus ink is then scraped from the smooth peripheral portion of the intaglio printing cylinder, thus leaving the image producing ink in the pits or wells of the cylinder, and this ink is transferred to'the web or sheet to be printed as it passes between the peripheral surfaces of the intaglio printing cylinder and the cooperating impression cylinder. After the desired number of impressions areproduced, the cylinder is then removed from the fountain and the peripheral surface is ground down, polished and a fresh subject or design is then produced therein. In order to remove the cylinder from the fountain, it is first necessary to remove the doctor blade and bafiie before the cylinder can be removed. The doctor blade is preferably held in yielding engagement with the periphery of the cylinder under predetermined tension, and, in existing mechanisms, it is necessary to disturb the degree of tension exerted on the doctor blade in re- I moving it from engagement with the periphery of the intaglio cylinder.

An object of this invention is to provide .means for holding a doctor blade in yielding engagement with theperiphery of an intaglio printing cylinder under'predetermined or given tension, and to permit the removal of the doctor blade from engagement with the cylinder without changing the tension adjustment of the doctor blade holding mechanism.

A further object of this invention is to provide movable means for holding a doctor blade in yielding engagement with the periphery of an intaglio printing cylinder under predetermined or given tension, and for maintaining the doctor blade in positions in which the blade is removed from engagement with the cylinder.

A further object of my present inventon is to provide movable means for holding a doctor blade, and a common instrumentality so cooperating with the movable doctor blade holder as and to hold the doctor blade holder in different positions in which positions the doctor blade is removed from engagement with the cylinder.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a pivotally supported doctor bladev holder and a spring tensioned arm cooperating with the doctor blade holder to hold the doctor blade in yielding engagement with the periphery of the intaglio printing cylinder under desired tension, and to hold the doctor blade holder in positions in which the doctor blade is removed from engagement with the cylinder, and means for varying the degree of tension imparted to the arm.

Another object of this invention is to provide a fountain for intaglio printing presses in which the fountain is provided with a movable support for the doctor blade to permit the doctor blade to move to and from engagement with the intaglio cylinder, and a movable baflie or deflector arranged to remove the surplus ink. from the periphery of the cylinder, which baffle is movable to and from ink removing position, thereby permitting the removal of the intaglio cylinder from the ink fountain.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an ink fountain for intaglio printing presses having components of generally improved construction and arrangement, whereby the device will'be simple, durable and inexpensive in construction, as well as convenient, practical, serviceable and efiicient in its use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view,

which will appear as the description'proceeds,

proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any advantages of the invention.

For a complete disclosure of the invention, a

detailed description of a preferred form thereof will now be given in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, whereinz- Figure 1 is a fragmental side elevation of an intaglio ink fountain showing my invention applied thereto, and in a position in which thedoctor blade is held in yielding engagement with the periphery of the intaglio cylinder, and the baflie member is depicted in ink removing position;

Figure 2 is a similar view, but showing the l6 and conveys a film of ink upwardly from the doctor blade holder and baffle member in positions to permit the removal of the intaglio printing cylinder from the ink fountain;

Figure 3 is a fragmental plan view, parts being removed and parts shown in sections;

Figure 4 is a detailed vertical sectional view, parts appearing in elevation, taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 1 and depicting the handle or lever for moving the baflie member to and from operative position; and

Figure 5 is a detailed sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3, showing the relationship between the spring pressed arm and a terminal of the baflie plate holder.

Referring to the drawings in which similar ref erence characters designate corresponding parts, It! indicates the usual frame of a rotary intaglio printing machine, and the side members or supports of the frame. are provided with bearings H for rotatably receiving a, shaft or trunnions |4 secured to and extending from the intaglio printing cylinder l5. This cylinder I5 is of the usual type employed in rotary intaglio printing machines inwhich the image or design to be printed is produced in intaglio on the periphery of the cylinder. The peripheral surface may v be in the form of the conventional shell, or, if

The usual or conventional intaglio fountain is provided and includes the housing l6 having an arcuate bottom portion I1 arranged with relation to the printing cylinder l5, and this arcuate bottom portion I1 is spaced a slight distance from the periphery of the cylinder l5 in order to provide an arcuate ink supply space or area 8 between the arcuate bottom I1 and the peripheral surface of the cylinder IS. The cylinder I5 rotates within the fountain housing prises an angular member l9, having a flange 26 received in slot or apertures 2| formed in bracket arms 22 supported by and rigidly secured to a longitudinally extending shaft 24, and the shaft "24, in turn, is rotatably supported in bearings 25 formed in the upper terminals of bracket members 26. Securing screws 21 having manipulating heads 28 engage the flange 20 of'the angular member l9, thereby securely locking the. angular member l9 to the arms 22. A clamp member 30 is secured to the upper face of the long flanges 3| of the angular member I9 of the doctor blade holder by means of screws or other securing devices 32, and a doctor blade 33 and the usual reenforcing plate or strip 34 are clamped between the clamping member 30 and the upper recessed face of the flange 3|, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The outer or free longitudinal edge of the doctor blade 33 accurately conforms to the periphery of the intaglio printing cylinder l5 and is held in yieldtransverse guides or supporting rails 31, and the brackets 26 are transversely operable bymeans of suitable manipulating screws 38 which are rotatably secured to a slidable frame or platform 39 in suitable bearings 46, and the screws 38 are threaded through the brackets 26, as indicated in Figures 1 and 2'. The brackets 26,

and platform 39, in conformity with the usual practice, are reciprocated or vibrated longitudinally along guide ways 4| carried by the machine frame |0, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Inasmuch as the mechanism for reciprocating or vibrating the doctor blade 33 and supporting members is well known and understood by those skilled in the art, the mechanism is not illustrated in this application.

Each bracket 26 has a supporting member or frame 42 secured thereto, and each supporting member is provided with spaced flanges 43 through which the shaft 24 extends. A shaft or arbor 44 is mounted for rotary movement in bearings 46 formed in the flanges 43 of each frame 42. An arm is mounted on each shaft 44, and the arm is free to turn or rotate on the shaft. A ratchet 50 is fixed or secured to each shaft 44, and a pawl 52 is pivotally secured to a 'flange 43 of each frame 42, as indicated at 54,

movement in one direction, a helical torsion spring 58 surrounds each shaft 44 and is interposed between the bearing portion 60 of each arm 48 and the ratchet on the same shaft 44. One terminal of each spring 58 is secured to a ratchet member 56, and the opposed terminal is secured to the bearing'portion 60 of an arm .48, thereby tending to bias or stress the arm in a direction toward the shaft 24, for reasons to be hereinafter disclosed. L'ever arms 62 are supported bythe shaft 24, and these lever arms are held against rotation relative to the shaft by keys or other securing devices 64. Each lever arm 62 has a pin or stud 66 secured at the free -terminal thereof, and each pin 66 extends laterally beyond the lever arm and engages an arm 48, as will be hereinafter more fully disclosed. Each arm 48 is provided with an arcuate surface 68, and a tangentially-disposed rectilinear surface 10 formed thereon for operable engagement with the pin 66. A stop member or stud 12 is supported by a bracket 26, and is positioned to engage a stop shoulder or surfaces 14 formed on an arm 22 to limit the turning movement of the doctor blade supporting members ate with the peripheral-portion of the cylinder l5 to provide a baffle member 84. Apertures 85' are formed in the plate 82 and are positioned to permit surplus ink to return back into the fountain when the plate 82 is in closed position, as depicted in Figure 1. A resilient strip or'sealing member 86 issecured to" the upper face of the plate 82 by suitable securing means, indicated at 81, and the free terminal of the resilient strip 86 engages the lower face of the flange 3|, thereby sealing the fountain against the esthe periphery of the printing cylinder cape of surplus ink. In order to rotate or oscillate the shaft 80, a suitable manipulating handle 88 is secured to a terminal thereof, as indicated at 90, and a spring pressed manually-releasable detent 92 engages apertures 96 formed in a quadrant or flange 95 carried by one of the bearing brackets i6, and a similar operating handle 96 is secured to the shaft 24, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. By this arrangement the doctor blade 33 and bafile 84 may be moved to and from engagement or operable association with the periphery of the printing cylinder l5 by manually moving the handles 96 and 88.

It is well understood by those skilled in the art that the doctor blade must be pressed against the periphery of the intaglio printing cylinder with uniform and determined tension, and, once the proper tension has been produced, it is highly desirable to maintain this tension. However, in order to remove the cylinder I5 from the ink fountain, it is necessary to remove the doctor blade from engagement with the periphery of the cylinder, and, when this is done by mechanism heretofore employed, it was necessary to release 'or disturb the tension producing mechanism. In this disclosure after a predetermined tension has been imparted to the doctor blade, the doctor blade may be removed from operable engagement with the periphery of the intaglio printing cylinder without disturbing the degree of tension exerted by the tension producing mechanism, as will be hereinafter made apparent.

In operation, the cylinder 55 is rotated counter clock-wise, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2 in the fountain housing It, thereby causing the peripheral portion of the cylinder and the intaglio design cavities to convey ink to the upper portion of the fountain toward the doctor blade. The ink carried upwardly by the periphery of the cylinder engages the baffie member 84, and this baffle member scrapes off or removes the surplus ink and spreads or works the remaining ink in a thin uniform film on the periphery of the cylinder. Further rotation of the cylinder conveys the thin film of ink to the doctor blade 33 which scrapes the ink from the smooth peripheral surface of the intaglio cylinder but leaves the design producing ink in the intaglio cavities of the cylinder, and. the surplus ink is directed by the bafile 36 through the openings 85 of the baflle plate 82 back into the fountain, and any ink that may find its way past the baffle 36 is prevented from escaping from the fountain by means of the flexible sealing member 86, as shown in Figure 1. In order to remove the cylinder l5 from the fountain, the operating handle 96 is manipulated to move the doctor blade holding members from the position indicated in Figure 1 to that depicted in Figure 2, and the movement of the doctor blade holder away from the fountain is limited by the engagement of the stop shoulder M with the stop stud 12. The handle 88 is then manipulated to move or turn the baffle plate 82 and baffle 84 away from the fountain to the position indicated in Figure 2, where the detent 92 snaps into the outermost aperture 94of the locking quadrant 95 to maintain these components in this position. The baflle 8B and doctor blade 33 may be moved back to operable engagement with N: by simply manipulating the handles 88 and 96. When the doctor blade holder is in position in which the doctor blade 33 engages the periphery of the cylinder, the rectilinear surface in of each arm 8 engages the pin 66, thereby stressing or biasing the doctor blade, under the infiuence of the springs 58, into yielding or wiping engagement with the periphery of the intaglio printing cylinder 55. After the doctor blade holder has been moved from a position in which the doctor blade engages the periphery of the cylinder, the pins 66 engage the arcuate portions 68 of the arms #8, thereby holding the doctor blade holder in open position, or in intermediate positions. The springs 58 may be adjusted to impart any desired tension to the doctor blade holder by simply rotating the shafts M by applying a suitable wrench or tool to the squared heads @5 of'these shafts. After the desired tension has been produced, the doctor blade 33 may be moved to and from engagement with the periphery of the intaglio printing cylinder without changing the tension previously established. During the movement of the bracket arms 22 and doctor blade supporting components away from the cylinder i5, the pins- 55 of the arms 62 leave the rectilinear surfaces 10 and engage the arcuate surfaces '68 of the arms at. When the pin 66 is in engagement with the arcuate surface 68 of each arm 48, this arcuate surface is then in concentric relationship with the shaft 24 so that the stresses imparted by the arm 8 to the pin 66 are radially exerted relative to the shaft 26, so that the stresses or forces acting on the doctor blade supporting members are in equilibrium, thus holding the doctor blade in any position in which the pins 66 engage the concentric arcuate surfaces 68 of the spring pressed arms 68.

What I claim is:

1. In a printing machine, an ink fountain, an intaglio printing cylinder rotatably mounted in the fountain, a doctor blade, a holder for the doctor blade, and a biased member while influenced by the bias operably engaging the doctor blade holder to bias the holder toward the cylinder to thereby hold the doctor blade in yielding engagement with the-periphery of the cylinder and to also hold the doctor blade holder in positions in which the doctor blade is moved from engagement with the cylinder.

2. In a printing machine, an ink fountain, an intaglio printing cylinder rotatably mounted in the fountain, a doctor blade, a holder for the doctor blade, a member biased in one direction and operably engaging the doctor blade holder to bias the holder toward the cylinder to thereby hold the doctor blade in yielding engagement with the periphery of the cylinder and while biased in the same direction to hold the doctor blade holder in positions in which the doctor blade is moved from engagement with the cylinder.'

3. In a printing machine, an ink fountain, an intaglio printing cylinder rotatably mounted in the fountain, a doctor blade, a holder for the doctor blade, and a biased member while in-- fiuenced by the bias operably engaging the doctor blade holder so as to bias the holder toward the cylinder to thereby hold the doctor blade in yielding engagement with the periphery of the cylinder and to also hold the doctor blade holder in positions in which the doctor blade is moved from engagement with the cylinder without biasing the doctor blade holder toward movement in any direction.

4. In a printing machine, an ink fountain, an

hold the doctor blade holder in other positions a intaglio printing cylinder rotatably mounted in the fountain, a doctor blade, a holder for the blade, and means constantly biased towards the holder and cooperating with the holder to bias it in a given direction when in certain positions 'in other positions without biasing it in any direction.

6. In a printing machine, an ink fountain, an intaglio printing cylinder rotatably mounted in the fountain, a doctor blade, a pivotally-supported holder for the doctor blade, and a member constantly biased towards the doctor blade holder and operably engaging it at a point removed from the pivot to thereby bias the holder and doctor blade toward the cylinder when the holder is in certain positions and to also hold the doctor blade holder in other positions without biasing it in any direction.

7. In a printing machine, an ink fountain, an intaglio printing cylinder rotatably mounted in the fountain, a doctor blade, a pivotally-supported holder for the doctor blade, and a constantly biased arm so engaging the doctor blade holder as to bias the doctor blade holder toward the cylinder when in certain position and to also hold the doctor blade holder in other positions without biasing it in any direction.

v 8. In a printing machine, an ink fountain, an intaglio printing cylinder rotatably mounted in the fountain, a doctor blade, a pivotally-supported holder for the doctor blade, a constantly biased arm so engaging the doctor blade holder as to bias the doctor blade holder toward the cylinder when in certain position and to also without biasing it' in any direction, and means for adjusting the degree of bias imparted to the arm.

9. In a printing machine, an ink fountain, an intaglio printing cylinder rotatably mounted in the fountain, a doctor blade, a pivotally-supported holder for the doctor blade, and a springtensioned arm operably engaging the doctor blade holder to bias the holder toward the cylinder to thereby hold the doctor blade in yielding engagement with the periphery of the cylinder and while under the influence of the spring tension to also hold the doctor blade holder in positions in which the doctor blade is moved from engagement with the cylinder.

10. In a printing machine, an ink fountain, an intaglio printing cylinder rotatably mounted in the fountain, a doctor blade, a pivotallysupported holder for the doctor blade, a springtensioned arm operably engaging the doctor blade holder to bias the holder toward the cylinder to thereby hold the doctor blade in yielding engagement with the periphery of the cylinder and while under the influence .of the spring tension to also hold the doctor blade holder in positions in which the doctor blade is moved from engagement with the cylinder, and means for varying the degree of spring tension imparted to the arm.

11. In a printing machine, an ink fountain, an

intaglio printing cylinder rotatably mounted in the fountain, a doctor blade, a holder for the doctor blade pivotally supported adjacent the cylinder and movable about its pivot to move the doctor blade to and from engagement with 5 the periphery of the cylinder, a suitable stop member for limiting the movement of the doctor blade holder away from the cylinder, and a common constantly spring-biased member cooperating with the doctor blade holder to bias the 10' holder toward the cylinder to thereby hold the doctor blade in yielding engagement with the periphery of the cylinder and to also hold the doctor blade holder when moved to engagement with the stop member. 15

12. In a printing machine, an ink fountain, an intaglio printing cylinder rotatably mounted in the fountain, a doctor blade, a holder for the doctor blade pivotally supported adjacent the cylinder and movable about its pivot to move the 20 doctor blade to and from engagement with the periphery of the cylinder, and 'a biased arm having a rectilinear and an arcuate surface, the rectilinear surface engaging the doctor blade holder to bias the doctor blade against the pe- 25 riphery of the cylinder and the arcuate surface engaging the holder to maintain the holder in positions in which the doctor blade is moved from engagement with the cylinder.

13. In a printing machine, an ink fountain, 30 an intaglio printing cylinder rotatably mounted in the fountain, a doctor blade, a holder for the doctor blade pivotally supported adjacent the cylinder and movable about its pivot to move the doctor blade to and from engagement with the 35- periphery of the cylinder, an arm having an arcuate surface and a rectilinear surface, a spring constructed and arranged to exert tension on the arm toward the doctor blade holder, the rectilinear surface of the arm engaging the holder to bias the doctor blade against the periphery of the cylinder and the arcuate surface engaging the holder to maintain it in positions in which the doctor blade is moved from engagement with the cylinder, and means. for varying the degree of tension exerted on the arm by the spring.

14. In a printing machine, an ink fountain, an intaglio printing cylinder rotatably mounted in the fountain, a doctor blade, a holder for the doctor blade pivotally supported adjacent the cylinder and movable about its pivot to move the doctor blade to and from engagement with the periphery of the cylinder, a stop member for limiting the movement of the doctor blade holder away from the cylinder, and a spring biased arm having a rectilinear surface and an arcuate surface, the rectilinear surface engaging the doctor blade holder to bias the doctor blade against the periphery of the cylinder and the arcuate surface engaging the holder to maintain it in po- 60 sition against the stop member.

15. In a printing machine, an ink fountain, an intaglio printing cylinder rotatably mounted in the fountain and removable therefrom, a doctor blade, a holder for the doctor blade pivotally 65 supported adjacent the cylinder and movable about its pivot to move the doctor blade to and from engagement with the periphery of the cylinder, a baflle member constructed and arranged to remove surplus ink from the periphery of the 70 cylinder, the baflle member being movable to and from ink removing position, and means for locking the baffle member in ink removing position and in a position remote thereto.

16. In a printing machine, an ink fountain, 15

. porting the doctor blade in engagement with the periphery of the cylinder, a baflie member constructed and arranged to remove surplus ink from the periphery of the cylinder and having drain apertures formed therein, and a sealing member interposed between the bafile member and the doctor blade support to'preventthe escape of ink scraped from the periphery of the cylinder by the doctor blade.

1'7. In a printing machine, an ink fountain, an intaglio printing cylinder rotatably mounted in the fountain and removable therefrom, a doctor blade movable to and from engagement with the periphery of the cylinder, means for holding the doctor blade into yielding engagement with the periphery of the cylinder and in positions removed from the cylinder, a baflle member constructed and arranged to remove surplus ink from the periphery of the cylinder, the bafile member being movable to and from ink removing position, and manually operable means for locking the baffle member in ink removing position and in a position remote thereto.

18. In a printing machine, an ink fountain, an intaglio printing cylinder rotatably mounted therein and removable therefrom, a doctor blade movable to and from engagement with the periphery of the cylinder, a baflle member pivotally supported adjacent the cylinder and constructed and arranged to remove surplus ink therefrom, a lever secured to the bafile member and movable therewith, a bracket having spaced apertures formed therein, a manually-releasable detent 15 carried by the lever and constructed and arranged to engage the spaced apertures of the bracket to told the baflle member in ink removing position and in a position remote therefrom.

HARRY LITTLE. 

